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David Fisk and Lucita Barquin Cortez: Daughters of Australian murdered alongside his wife at a hotel in the Philippines break their silence - after cops reveal suspected killer's motive

2 months ago 13

The grieving daughters of an Aussie who was allegedly murdered alongside his wife and her daughter-in-law in a Philippines hotel room have said they won't stop fighting until they get justice.

David James Fisk, 57, his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, a Philippines-born Australian citizen, and their daughter-in-law Mary Jane Cortez, 30, were found dead at The Lake Hotel, at Tagaytay in the country's Cavite province, southwest of Manila.

A pool cleaner who worked at the hotel is accused of killing them in a warped act of revenge on his employers. 

Mr Fisk was due to walk his daughter, Lacinda, down the aisle next month but the wedding has now been postponed.

'We have been living and will continue to live a nightmare until any of this makes sense', Lacinda Fisk told Nine News through tears. 

'For someone to take our father away from us so cruelly... it just doesn't make sense.'

'We won't stop fighting until we find out why, and we won't stop fighting until we have justice for our father and Lucita.'

Lacinda's sister Brittany said the alleged crime had left her' really angry and scared'.  

Lacinda Fisk and her sister Brittany have vowed won't stop fighting until they have justice

David James Fisk, 57, his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez (pictured together) and their daughter-in-law Mary Jane Cortez, 30, were found dead at The Lake Hotel at Tagaytay south-west of Manila

'I don't want this to happen to anyone else,' she added.

Adding to their heartbreak, the sisters claim that most of their information had come from media reports rather than the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs. 

'My poor sister having to make the phone call and then her poor fiance on Thursday having to make the phone call to let me know how they actually died like ... no one should have to deal with that,' Brittany said. 

Her sister had to call DFAT to confirm media reports that the suspect had been found.

'I understand that there's obviously a due process, but it just didn't seem right,' Lacinda told The Age.

'It doesn't seem fair that we're having to continually push for these answers when you would hope that they would want to help us.'

The sisters pray that their many questions will be answered and that their father's body will soon return home.

'This is not something that happens in real life and I just think, 'Why was my poor father caught up in this?' It doesn't make sense,' Lacinda added. 

'No one should have to receive a phone call [saying] that their father has been murdered overseas and still just be so in the dark.'

Mr Fisk was due to walk his daughter, Lacinda, down the aisle next month but the wedding has now been postponed (pictured, left to right: Lacinda, Brittany and their allegedly murdered father David)

Hotel staff made the horrifying discovery on July 10 when the Mr Fisk, his wife Ms Cortez and her daughter-in-law failed to check out of their room. 

All three victims were reportedly found lying face-down with their hands and feet bound and tape over their mouths.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Tagaytay police chief Charles Daven M Capagcuan revealed a man 'surrendered' to officers at 1.38am on Wednesday in relation to the murders.

The 33-year-old man, known under the alias 'Ronel', was a former employee at the hotel, according to the Cavite Police Provincial Office report.

'The course of the investigation revealed that the suspect took revenge against the hotel's management for his termination from employment, which led to the tragic killing of the victims,' the report said. 

Mr Capagcuan told reporters that Ronel worked as the hotel's swimming pool cleaner and 'wanted to get back at the hotel management for his dismissal'.

A man suspected of killing an Australian couple and their relative while they were holidaying in the Philippines surrendered himself to police (pictured)

Police explained the man (pictured) was a disgruntled former employee at the hotel where the bodies were found 

Tagaytay city Mayor Abraham Tolentino and Capagcuan presented the suspect at news conference.

The man was ushered into the room in handcuffs and was wearing a hooded jacket, dark sunglasses and a black face mask.  

Mr Capagcuan explained the suspect 'surrendered' himself to authorities after police attended his home in the province of Batangas, near Tagaytay, on Tuesday evening. 

The development comes after police spent the last week searching for a man who was spotted on CCTV footage exiting the room on the day of the alleged murders. 

Hotel security camera vision showed the man leaving the room dressed in a black hood jumper, maroon shorts, sneakers and carrying a black backpack. 

Mr Capagcuan said the suspect was identified by at least three hotel employees based on the images captured by the security cameras.  

It is understood police are planning to charge the suspect with murder and robbery, after he allegedly admitted to taking Mr Fisk's watch and shoes following the attack.

According to local media reports, hotel security guard Rodney Parahinog passed the man at 6am on Wednesday at the resort's entrance gate and asked him where he was going.

Mr Parahinog said the man replied that he was a guest and was holding a key card for Mr Fisk's room. 

Pictured: Australian national David James Fisk, 57, his Philippine-born Australian wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55

The three murder victims are pictured, left and centre, with another family member (right) during Mr Fisk's visit to the Philippines with partner Lucita Barquin Cortez 

Tagaytay city Mayor Abraham Tolentino (centre) apologised to the family of the victims and to Australia for the brutal murders that happened in his city  

On Friday, Mr Fisk's family released a statement sharing their grief as they pleaded for answers about the horrific deaths.

'The love we have for our Father and Lucita is so dear and this situation is like living a nightmare,' the statement read.

'We pray for answers and the truth in this horrific matter and just pray for their safe return to Australian shores.

'David's daughters, local known and loved residents in the Sutherland Shire, ask on behalf of their family that the media respect our privacy in this incredibly difficult and tragic time and we will be making no further comment.'

The family have set up a GoFundMe to assist with 'support getting justice for all loved ones involved' and will be used to 'help ease the financial stress and burden that will arise from this incredibly difficult time'.

Mr Fisk's body will be repatriated to Sydney, while both women will be buried in the Philippines, with the government to pay for their funeral service and burial. 

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